Medical Convention Report
By L. A. Hansen
The Religious Side of Sanitarium Work
ASIDE from the general tendency of all the convention discussions to lean to an emphasis of the spiritual nature and purpose of our sanitarium work, there were questions which dealt with this in particular. The recommendation calling for the appointment of a lady Bible worker called forth several suggestions. One recommendation in this connection was as follows:— “Resolved, That we hereby express our earnest desire that the chaplains of our sanitariums be men of health, tact, and judgment, such as will qualify them for dealing with the religious work of the institutions in the best possible manner.” Dr. Abbie Winegar-Simpson thought the spiritual work of the institution could be carried better by a woman than by a man. If we had to be without either, it would be better to lose the chaplain than the lady Bible worker. She suggested utilizing some of the more mature lady nurses in this connection, after they had received some special training to fit them for the work. She thought an experienced nurse would be well prepared to meet patients and to deal with them in their illness. R. A. Underwood: “I believe this is a good recommendation. A lady worker ought to be a great help in an institution. I believe it would be a financial benefit as well, helping to hold patients. There are those who inquire about our work and truth, and they should be instructed.” Dr. W. T. Lindsay felt that the religious work of the sanitarium was important enough to require the attention of a man of health, education, and ability, and that it should not be regarded as a field for men who, because of advanced years and broken health, could not well be used elsewhere. C. M. Christiansen believed that a young man could do better work than an elderly one, in meeting patients and teaching them, as the older man has had his training in other lines of work and is not well prepared to deal with the average sanitarium audience. Dr. D. H. Kress: “This is an important matter. I have seen much difficulty in trying to make proper provision for our religious services. Naturally it is hard for a minister to adapt himself readily to it when all his training has been in other directions. The methods followed in a tent meeting cannot be used in the sanitarium parlor service. The doctor should be prepared to take the chapel service any time it is necessary. While the doctor does not obviously put spiritual work to the front, he ought to be able to do it. The true Christian physician is a true Christian minister. “People should feel at ease in coming to the chapel service. We should not do personal work there. The service should last about twenty minutes.” Dr. R. S. Irvine: “The religious work resolves itself into three parts—for patients, for nurses, and public meetings. The doctors and nurses can best do personal work. The explanation of doctrinal points comes best within the chaplain’s work. The chapel exercise should not be made a preaching service, nor the occasion for the presentation of doctrine.” Dr. W. E. Bliss: “The work of the chaplain should pave the way for patients’ seeking further instruction in doctrine. When they go from the sanitarium, it should be with an earnest desire to look further into their spiritual welfare.” L. A. Hansen: “Those conducting the public service should not feel burdened to press doctrinal points. We should remember that the parlor is a public place where the patients are to feel perfectly free. It is not right to take advantage of their presence at a parlor service to present doctrinal subjects. Considering the character of the average sanitarium parlor audience, made up largely of sick and nervous persons, discouraged and21low-spirited, it would seem more fitting to present to them the goodness of God, the all-sufficient help of Jesus, the promises of grace, and kindred truths with which the Bible abounds, thus drawing them to the Saviour. Doctrinal subjects may well be left for a more opportune time, as the way may open. The workers’ meeting place, in the gymnasium or elsewhere, may be freely used for presenting things pertaining more directly to our own work, it being understood that patients coming there may expect to hear such things. “The prayer offered in the parlor service should be one calculated to cheer and uplift. It should not be a lengthy one. Invalids should not be made to feel that reaching God through prayer is a long, labored, and tedious process. Let them feel, too, that the prayer is offered in their behalf, just as the worship service is for them. I have known patients to acknowledge having received much help through the simple prayer offered. “If the chaplain visits the rooms to make calls, it should not be with a long, solemn face, as if the occasion were a mournful one.” Dr. H. W. Miller: “While we recognize the value of lady Bible workers, especially to work with lady patients, there is no objection to a chaplain’s going to the bedside of a lady patient. This is done elsewhere, and is considered proper. One chaplain can find much to do if he will seek opportunities and improve them. We should strengthen our sanitarium work in this respect. If all our sanitariums would regard this as an essential phase of the work and demand competent persons to act as chaplains, they would get them.” A paper by Elder G. B. Starr dealt further with the subject. It will appear next week.